T-SCREAMER TS9 TS808

doc rev 26/05/15

www.op-electronics.com

TS9 and TS808

The only difference between TS9 and TS808 is with R16 and R17 resistors:

TS9
R16=470
R17=100K

TS808
R16=100
R17=10K

Transistors

Original units came with 2SC1815 but since T1 and T2 stages are only buffer circuits transistors don't
play a crucial role on sound here. Schematic and kits come with 2N5088 and can't be replaced with
2SC1815 straight forwardly because of different pinouts. 2N5088 could be replaced with any NPN bjt,
like 2N3904 or equivalents, just pay attention to pinout.

IC

JRC4558D is the standard chip for this circuit but it's worth a try experimenting with other dual
opamps too, like TL072, TL082, TL062, MC1458 etc. Any dual opamp will do the job and may
contribute to deliver a different sound.

GAIN MODS

Basically the gain of the DRIVE stage is given by DRIVE+R7/R8, so when the pot is full up the
opamp gain will be around 120 and 10 when full down. Change the value ratio above and
you will get different gain numbers.

The most straight forward approach is to use a 1M pot in place of 500K for DRIVE control, this will double
the gain of the stage still preserving Tube Screamer sonic character.

BASS BOOST

Pick a higher value for C5 to increase bass frequency response or solder a jumper in place of C5 for even
more bass boost. Connect a switch between C5 cap if you want to make the boosting switchable:
 CLIPPING DIODES

By default T-Screamer board allows you to use a switch to select between symmetrical and asymmetrical
clipping configuration. Use 1N4148 diodes for D1, D2, D4 and connect a switch into ASYM pads:

ASYM SYM

Real Tube Screamer units come with no switch of course and use symmetrical clipping configuration.

SELECT CLIPPING WITH ROTARY SWITCH

Not connected 1N4148

4. BOOST 3. SYMMETRICAL

1N4148

1N4148
2. ASYMMETRICAL
1N4148 1N4148

1N34

1. GE-SI hybrid
SYMMETRICAL
1N4148

A 3P4T switch is shown in the picture, of course a SP4T is enough

Picture above is an axample of a clipping diodes arrangement we tested:

1st position is a hybrid germanium-silicon clipping configuration.

2nd is asymmetrical with 3 silicon diodes 1N4148
3rd is symmetrical with 2 silicon diodes 1N4148
4th unconnected

With 4th T-Screamer will behave like a regular clean booster. Other 3 positions will help select between different tonal
shapes, each of them owing its distinct character.

We tried other types of PN junction devices in there and this is our report:

don't use LEDs, they have none or little effect on sound

different germanium diodes sound much the same, the same goes when trying the base-emitter junction of a
germanium transistor as a diode
with 2 ge diodes the output level drop is too high, that's why the ge-si hybrid
we tried zeners with good result, it's worth a try experimenting with them
we didn't try FET but it would be worth testing them

DRILL & LABEL LAYOUT

CLIPPING
asym sym
GE boost

DRIVE VOL

BASS
FLAT BOOST
TONE
OUT

IN

SCREAMER
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 T-SCREAMER partlist
Qty Value Package Parts Description
1 100K-A 16MM VOL POTENTIOMETER
1 100K/10K 0204/7 R17 RESISTOR
1 100nF C050-025X075 C9 CAPACITOR
6 10K 0204/7 R3, R4, R5, R6, R10, R15 RESISTOR
5 1K 0204/7 R1, R9, R11, R13, RLED RESISTOR
1 1M 0204/7 R18 RESISTOR
1 1N4001 DO41 D3 Rectifier Diode
3 1N4148 DO35 D1, D2, D4 Fast Switching Diode
1 1uF E2,5-6 C10 POLARIZED CAPACITOR
2 1uF NP E2,5-6 C3, C8 BIPOLAR ELECTROLYTIC CAPACITOR
1 20K-B 16MM TONE POTENTIOMETER
1 220 0204/7 R12 RESISTOR
2 220nF tantalium C050-025X075 C6, C7 POLARIZED CAPACITOR
1 22nF C050-025X075 C1 CAPACITOR
2 2N5088 TO92 T1, T2 NPN Transistor
1 4.7K 0204/7 R8 RESISTOR
1 JRC4558D DIL08 IC1 DUAL Op Amp
1 470/100 0204/7 R16 RESISTOR
1 47nF C050-025X075 C5 CAPACITOR
2 47uF E2,5-6 C2, C11 POLARIZED CAPACITOR
1 500K-B 16MM DRIVE POTENTIOMETER
2 510K 0204/7 R2, R14 RESISTOR
1 51K 0204/7 R7 RESISTOR
1 51pF C050-025X075 C4 CAPACITOR
1 ANY COLOR LED LED LED
1 SPST SPST ASYM TOGGLE SWITCH